The United Kingdom is currently facing a shortage of professional cricket balls ahead of the upcoming English summer. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has disrupted key supply chains, affecting the manufacturing and transportation of Duke balls.
The County Championship is scheduled to begin on April 3 with 18 teams. However, the officials are dealing with a major logistical challenge as there are not enough balls available for four-day matches, where regular replacements are required.
We’ve got a big crisis right now – Dilip Jajodia on Duke Ball shortage
Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Limited, talked about the manufacturing crisis. He said the leather is produced in Chesterfield, while the stitching is done in the subcontinent before the balls are shipped back via Middle Eastern routes.
Jajodia told the Daily Mail, “We have a big crisis right now with this bloody Gulf War nonsense. We have to ration the clubs by giving them 50 per cent of their balls at the start of the season and then manage the problem. We have a lot of goods ready to go to factories in the subcontinent, but the airlines are not taking the goods because there is congestion.”
With international airspace disrupted and freight movement slowed, shipments have piled up overseas. Airlines are avoiding conflict areas or charging huge premiums to operate, causing major delays in deliveries and sharply increasing transportation costs for producers ahead of the season.
Most goods go through the Middle East – Dilip Jajodia on Duke supply disruption
The financial impact has been severe for the Dukes manufacturer. Dilip Jajodia revealed that the cost of transporting a box of 120 cricket balls has almost tripled due to the ongoing conflict. Limited cargo flights and disrupted routes have increased expenses and caused major delays in deliveries.
He added, “Rates have also gone up. Airlines would normally charge about $5 per kg for a box of 120 cricket balls. The last quote I got was $15 per kg. Most of the stuff goes through the Middle East, but if you suddenly have rockets flying, you’ve got a big problem.”
To prevent any major disruption, the company is currently bearing additional transportation costs. They are also considering alternative shipping routes from the subcontinent, including sending consignments through Sri Lanka and even using private courier flights to avoid delays.
Dukes manufacturer addresses ball quality concerns
Dilip Jajodia also responded to the criticism regarding Dukes balls during the recent Test series against India. Players had raised concerns about the balls losing shape rapidly, leading to frequent changes during matches on flat pitches.
He admitted that the core was a little loose in some earlier batches but confirmed that the problem has now been fixed. The company has strengthened the internal structure to ensure that the ball maintains its shape even under heavy impacts.
Following these improvements, the ball change was significantly reduced in the latter half of the Lord’s Test and the remainder of the series. The ECB has also introduced a centralized system to ensure that there is an appropriate supply of well-prepared replacement balls at every venue going forward.
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